Postage printer

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention involve an integrated thermal printer with a scale that is connected to a computer. The computer is connected to a web server that is authorized by a government postal agency, e.g. the USPS, to issue postage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of co-pending, commonlyassigned, patent application Ser. No. 11/616,327 entitled “POSTAGEPRINTER,” filed Dec. 27, 2006 and is related to co-pending and commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/688,456 entitled“CRYPTOGRAPHIC MODULE FOR SECURE PROCESSING OF VALUE-BEARING ITEMS,”filed Oct. 16, 2000, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to printers and in specific toprinters for printing postage indicia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Printers, including thermal printers, have been in widespread use formany years. Thermal Printers made by suppliers such as Dymo, Zebra,Seiko, Avery, and Brother have the ability to print any data feed.Typically, they do not provide any communication to outside software. Inother words, the printers have their own proprietary software to printitems sent as a print image. Thus, there is no communication from theprinter back to the controller, e.g. a computer, as there is onlycommunication from the controller to the printer.

Another type of postage indicia printer is a non-thermal printer thathas an integrated scale. This type of printer is essentially a postagemeter that prints a postage indicium. This type of printer system isdedicated to forming postage indicia for postal items.

A further type of postage indicia printer is also a non-thermal printerthat comprises a computer connected to a printer. The computer is ageneral-purpose processor based computer that is operating under controlof an instruction set that performs a postage meter function. A portionof the instruction set may be located on a postage security device (PSD)to authenticate the postage transaction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system and method which comprisesan integrated thermal printer with a scale that is connected to acomputer. The computer is connected to a web server that is authorizedby a government postal agency, e.g. the USPS, to issue postage. Thevalue for an item to be mailed is calculated, and then sent to theauthorized web server. The web server generates data that is used toform the postage indicium to be printed. The computer may form thepostage indicium from the data, and provide the indicium to the printerfor printing. To perform this transaction, information flows from theprinter to the computer and then to the web server, and then back to theprinter.

Embodiments of the invention have the security for the transaction builtinto the software residing on the computer and not in the printer.

Embodiments of the present invention allow for the printing USPSrequired data, including but not limited to a bar code, registrationmarks, facing indicator marks, etc., to be printed using a thermalprinter.

Embodiments of the invention can be used to print an indicium on anenvelope, or print an indicium onto a label, which may then be appliedto an envelope.

Embodiments of the invention may use a non-thermal printer.

Embodiments of the invention may result in a cost savings from using aless expensive printing process.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthe invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary system according to embodiments of theinvention; and

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary method of operation of the system of FIG. 1according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary system 100 of an embodiment of theinvention. System 100 comprises an integrated thermal printer/scale 10that is connected to a computer 11 via connection 12. The computer 11may be a personal computer, laptop computer, or other computing device.The connection 12 may be a USB connection, an RF link, a fiber opticlink, a wireless link, an infra-red link, a telephone network, a local(LAN) and/or a wide-area (WAN) network, an Ethernet network, and/or theInternet network. The computer 11 may be located within the same room asthe printer 10 or in a different location.

The computer 11 includes software 18 that provides authentication forthe postage being printed on the printer 10. The computer 11 maycalculate the value of the postage from data provided by the printer 10using a rating engine that has current rate tables for postage. The ratetables may be automatically updated via server 21. The computer may thensend the value back to the printer for acceptance by a user at theprinter. Alternatively, the printer may calculate the value of thepostage, and then send the value to the computer 11. In any event, thecomputer then communicates with server 21 to handle the authenticationof the postage indicium and obtain the postage credit for the value ofthe postage indicium. The computer is connected via network 20, e.g. theInternet, to a server 21 that is authorized by the USPS to generatepostage. Note that the computer 11 may be connected to more than oneprinter 10, and handle operation of the printers. Interaction betweenthe computer 11 and the server 21 and the operation of the computer 11and the server 21 are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No.7,149,726, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/688,456, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example,the postage indicium data may be generated by a cryptographic modulewithin the server 21, and then sent back to the computer 11.

The integrated thermal printer/scale 10 includes a scale 13 that is usedfor weighing items to be mailed. The printer portion of printer 10includes area 14 for loading one or more rolls of thermal paper to beused for printing postage indicium or indicia. The printer 10 includes athermal print head that may print indicia and/or labels, depending uponthe type of paper that is used. The print head may be a one inch printhead that will print indicia only or a two inch print head that printsboth indicia and labels. The printed indicium exits the printer throughcover bar 19.

The printer 10 includes interface area, which may comprise one or moreof button(s), slides, touch pad(s), and dial(s) to allow a user to inputdata and/or control the printer 10. For example, the interface area 15may include a power button for powering the printer, a zero button tozero the scale, a feed button to align the paper roll, a hold scalebutton which will retain the weight value of the item to be mailed afterthe item has been removed from the scale,

The printer 10 may also include a screen 17 to provide visualinformation to a user regarding information of the item to be mailed,and/or status of the printer. The screen 17 may be a small a LCD screencomprising two lines of twenty characters each, or the screen may belarger or smaller. The screen may display, for example, the weight ofthe item to be mailed, the desired mail class (e.g. first, priority,express, bulk, etc.) for the item, the type of item that is to be mailed(e.g. letter, flat, package, etc.), a quantity of items to be mailed,and the postage value for the item to be mailed.

The printer 10 may also comprise interface area 16, which may compriseone or more of button(s), slides, touch pad(s), and dial(s) to allow auser to input data and/or control the printer 10. For example, theinterface area may include controls for allowing a user to select adesired mail class, a type of item, a quantity of items, and a printbutton that causes the printer to print the postage indicium or indiciafor the item or items to be mailed. Using the interface area, the usermay set a default condition, e.g. type is letter, the class is first,etc.

The printer 10 may also include one or more interfaces 22 to allow forperipheral devices to be attached to the printer. For example, oneperipheral device may be a second scale. Thus, the second scale may beattached to the printer and used by the printer in weighing item(s) tobe mailed. For example, the scale 13 may be a five pound scale capableof weighing items up to five pounds, while the second scale may have alarger capacity, e.g. 100 pounds. Other devices may include flash or RAMmemory.

Note that the printer 10 may comprise one or more CPUs, each of whichhandles a particular function or set of functions of the printer. One ofthe CPUs may have a built-in A/D converter to allow for direct receiptof scale data. Different CPUs may also allow for future expandabilityand for conversion from a thermal print head to an ink jet print head.The CPUs may be any general purpose CPU, such as an Intel Pentiumprocessor. However, the present invention is not restricted by thearchitecture of CPU as long as CPU supports the inventive operations asdescribed herein. Various buses may connect the CPU(s) to memory, e.g.RAM access memory and/or ROM memory, to hold user and system data andprograms. The buses may also connect the CPU(s) to one or more I/O cardswhich couple to user interface devices, such as the buttons 15, 16, thedisplays 14, 17, data ports (e.g. USB port(s), flash memory port(s)).The buses may also connect the CPU(s) to a printer controller, whichcontrols the print head. The buses may also connect the CPU(s) to A/Dconverters, which allow data from one or more load cells or scales to beused by the CPU(s). The buses may also connect the CPU(s) to acommunication interface, which allows a communication connection to beused by the CPU(s). The communication connection may be one or more of atelephone network, a local (LAN) and/or a wide-area (WAN) network, anEthernet network, and/or the Internet network.

The printer 10 may print an image as a portion of the postage indicium.For example, an aesthetic picture, a personal picture, a company logo, acustomized message, an effect, and/or a portion of a shipping label maybe printed. Such images may be pre-loaded on the printer and/ordownloaded to the printer from either the computer 11, the web server21, or other location. The image may be edited at the printer 10 or atthe computer 11. The images may be stored on internal RAM or onperipherally attached memory, e.g. flash memory. In one embodiment, auser may send an image from the computer 11 to the server 21 forapproval; the image may only be printed after approval by the web server21. Approval may be granted for images that are appropriate for use inthe postage system.

FIG. 2 depicts an example of a method 200 of operation of the system 100of FIG. 1. In 201, a user first logs on to the computer 11. This usermay be the same user that will operate the printer 10 or a differentuser. In any event, after log on, the system 100 is ready for use. Afterlog on, a user may place an item to be mailed on to the scale, 202. In203, the user then inputs the mailing preferences for the item, such asitem type, desired class, etc. The user may elect to use the defaultsettings instead of making preference selections. Note 202 may beperformed before during or after 203. Also note that 202 may not beperformed, particularly when the weight is not critical to the itembeing mailed, e.g. postcards or simple first class letters.

In 204, the value for mailing the item is calculated. The value may becalculated based on the weight of the item and/or the preferenceinformation. The value may be calculated by the printer 10 or by thesoftware 18 operating on the computer 11. If the value is calculated bythe computer 11, the value may be sent to the printer 10 for display tothe user. Note that the system may provide one or more values to theuser. This may occur when the user does not make a selection for one ormore preferences. For example, the user does not provide a preferencefor a mailing class. The system may then provide the user with differentvalues based on the different classes. The user may then review each ofthe values and their associated mailing options and choose a desiredvalue for the item.

In 205, the user accepts the value (or the selected value of a pluralityof values) by engaging a print button, which initiates the printing ofthe indicium. In 206, the printer 10 communicates the acceptance to thecomputer 11, which then communicates with the USPS approved server 21 toobtain the postage for the transaction. The USPS approved server thendebits an account or otherwise charges the appropriate entity for thepostage value, generates the indicium data, and sends the indicium datawith a digital signature back to the software 18. The software 18, usingthe indicium data, generates the postage indicium, and sends the postageindicium to the printer 10, which prints the indicium onto a medium.

In 207, the postage indicium or indicia, with the postage value, isprinted by printer 10. The user then retrieves the label or indiciumfrom the printer and attaches the label or indicium to the item(s) to bemailed.

Note that other embodiments may use non-thermal printers, such as alaser printer, a dot matrix printer, or an ink-jet printer. If a pictureis desired to be printed along with the postage value, then an ink jetprinter may be used.

The postage indicium that is printed by the printer 10 may be a simpleindicium that includes a picture and a postage value.

The indicium may comprise a digital indicium, which may be anInformation-Based Indicia (IBI). The IBI is a fully (or at leastpartially) computer-readable mark, e.g. a bar code, which comprisespostal information that is digitally signed, which provides security tothe postage system and reducing the risks of forgery, meter tampering,and unauthorized use. Each IBI may be unique and may include informationsuch as one or more of a date, a time, a printer registration number, auser number, a source address, a destination address, mailinginformation (e.g. postage value, class, weight, size of the envelope,and/or number of pages, etc.), an IBI serial number, a digitalsignature, zip code, tracking information, and special servicesinformation (e.g. insurance, return receipt, certified mail, registered,express mail, or other services). In other words, the bar code may bedynamic in that it is based on the moment of creation and, thus each barcode will be different. The bar code may have a Data Matrix format, atwo-dimensional bar code format, or a one-dimensional bar code format.

The printed indicium may comprise other elements along with the barcode, for example human readable information, and registration marks.The human readable information may be information desired by the USPS orby the mailer or shipper. Examples of human readable information includea company logo, a watermark, etc. The registration marks such as facingindication marks could be also printed, as well as other features thatare not useful to a customer or aesthetically pleasing to a customer.

Postage may be purchased or added at either the printer 10 or thecomputer 11. A user may swipe a credit card at an attached credit cardreader located at either the printer or the computer and enter a desiredamount. The value may be tracked at the computer 11 and/or the server21. The user may pre-authorize a credit account to be debited for auser-defined amount as needed.

Note that embodiments of the invention may be used to print the indiciafor envelopes, or other shipping containers such as packages, boxes,cartons, tubes, etc. Embodiments of the invention may be used to printthe indicia onto labels, which are then applied to envelopes, or othershipping containers such as packages, boxes, cartons, tubes, etc.

Note that any of the functions described herein may be implemented inhardware, software, and/or firmware, and/or any combination thereof.When implemented in software, the elements of the present invention areessentially the code segments to perform the necessary tasks. Theprogram or code segments can be stored in a processor readable medium ortransmitted by a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, or asignal modulated by a carrier, over a transmission medium. The“processor readable medium” may include any medium that can store ortransfer information. Examples of the processor readable medium includean electronic circuit, a semiconductor memory device, a ROM, a flashmemory, an erasable ROM (EROM), a floppy diskette, a compact diskCD-ROM, an optical disk, a hard disk, a fiber optic medium, a radiofrequency (RF) link, etc. The computer data signal may include anysignal that can propagate over a transmission medium such as electronicnetwork channels, optical fibers, air, electromagnetic, RF links, etc.The code segments may be downloaded via computer networks such as theInternet, Intranet, etc.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present invention.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for printing a shipping label for anitem to be shipped, the system comprising: a printer having a shippingparameter interface adapted for inputting at least one shippingparameter for the item, wherein the printer is adapted to communicatethe at least one shipping parameter to a computer for generation ofshipping data for printing by the printer on the label, wherein theprinter is further adapted to receive the shipping data as generated bythe computer in cooperation with a server to enable printing of theshipping label by the printer.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one shipping parameter comprises a parameter selected from thelist consisting of item type, shipping class, and item weight.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the printer further has a user interfaceadapted for a user accepting a value of the shipping label andcontrolling the printing thereof.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein theuser interface provides a plurality of values to the user for selectionof a value for the shipping label by the user.
 5. The system of claim 3,wherein the value is calculated by the computer and provided to theprinter for accepting by the user.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein theshipping data comprises a postage indicium.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the shipping data comprises a user selected image.
 8. The systemof claim 1, wherein the item to be shipped comprises an item selectedfrom the group consisting of a package, a box, a carton, and a tube. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the printer is adapted for printing onroll stock, wherein the shipping label comprises a label of the rollstock.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second printerhaving a second interface adapted for inputting a second at least oneshipping parameter for a second item to be shipped, wherein the secondprinter is adapted to communicate the second at least one shippingparameter to the computer for generation of shipping data for printingby the second printer.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising: acredit card reader adapted to facilitate payment for the shipping label.12. The system of claim 11, wherein the credit card reader is disposedat the printer.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the payment for theshipping label comprises purchase of postage credit, at least a portionof which is debited for generation of the shipping data.
 14. The systemof claim 1, further comprising: a scale for weighing the item to beshipped.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the scale is integratedinto the printer.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the printerfurther has a scale interface adapted for controlling the scale.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, wherein the scale interface comprises a controlinput for zeroing the scale.
 18. The system of claim 1, whereincommunication of the at least one shipping parameter and the shippingdata between the printer and the computer is provided by a wirelesscommunication link.
 19. A method for printing a shipping label for anitem to be shipped, the method comprising: inputting at least oneshipping parameter for the item at a printer; communicating the at leastone shipping parameter from the printer to a computer in communicationwith the printer; generating, by the computer in cooperation with aserver in communication therewith, shipping data using the at least oneshipping parameter; communicating the shipping data from the computer tothe printer; accepting, at the printer, user input to control printingof the shipping label including at least a portion of the shipping data;and printing, by the printer, the shipping label including at least aportion of the shipping data.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein theinputting the at least one shipping parameter comprises: selecting,through operation of a printer user interface, at least one shippingpreference for the item at the printer.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the at least one shipping preference comprises at least one ofitem type or shipping class.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein theinputting the at least one shipping parameter comprises: accepting,through operation of a scale coupled to the printer, a weight of theitem.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the printer comprises a scaleinterface adapted for controlling the scale, the method furthercomprising: zeroing the scale using the scale interface.
 24. The methodof claim 22, wherein the generating the shipping data comprises:calculating at least one postage rate for the item using the weight ofthe item and the at least one mailing preference.
 25. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the shipping data comprises a postage indicium. 26.The method of claim 19, wherein the accepting user input to controlprinting of the shipping label comprises: accepting, by user input tothe printer, a value of the shipping label and controlling the printingthereof.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: providing aplurality of values to the user for accepting a selected value for theshipping label by the user.
 28. The method of claim 19, wherein the itemto be shipped comprises an item selected from the group consisting of apackage, a box, a carton, and a tube.
 29. The method of claim 19,wherein the printing the shipping label comprises: printing on rollstock, wherein the shipping label comprises a label of the roll stock.30. The method of claim 19, further comprising: inputting at least onesecond shipping parameter for a second item at a second printer;communicating the at least one second shipping parameter from the secondprinter to the computer, wherein the computer is in communication withthe second printer; generating, by the computer in cooperation with theserver, second shipping data using the at least one second shippingparameter; communicating the second shipping data from the computer tothe second printer; accepting, at the second printer, user input tocontrol printing of the second shipping label including at least aportion of the second shipping data; and printing, by the secondprinter, the second shipping label including at least a portion of thesecond shipping data.
 31. The method of claim 19, further comprising:accepting, by a credit card reader adapted to facilitate payment for theshipping label, payment for the shipping label.
 32. The method of claim31, wherein the credit card reader is disposed at the printer.
 33. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the credit card reader is disposed at thecomputer.
 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the accepting payment forthe shipping label comprises: purchasing postage credit, at least aportion of which is debited for generation of the shipping data.
 35. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the data communication between the computerand the printer is provided by a wireless communication link.
 36. Asystem for printing a shipping label for an item to be shipped, thesystem comprising: a printer having a shipping parameter interfaceadapted for inputting at least one shipping preference for the item, theprinter also having a scale interface adapted for accepting a weight ofthe item from a scale in communication with the printer, wherein theprinter is adapted to communicate the at least one shipping preferenceand the weight to a computer for generation of shipping data forprinting by the printer on the label, wherein the printer is furtheradapted to receive the shipping data from the computer to enable theprinter to print the shipping label, and wherein the printer further hasa user interface adapted for a user accepting a value of the shippinglabel as provided by the shipping data and controlling the printing ofthe shipping label including at least a portion of the shipping data.37. The system of claim 36, wherein the at least one shipping parametercomprises a parameter selected from the list consisting of item type,shipping class, and item weight.
 38. The system of claim 36, wherein theuser interface provides a plurality of values to the user for selectionof a value for the shipping label by the user.
 39. The system of claim36, wherein the value is calculated by the computer and provided to theprinter for accepting by the user.
 40. The system of claim 36, whereinthe shipping data comprises a postage indicium.
 41. The system of claim36, wherein the item to be shipped comprises an item selected from thegroup consisting of a package, a box, a carton, and a tube.
 42. Thesystem of claim 36, wherein the printer is adapted for printing on rollstock, wherein the shipping label comprises a label of the roll stock.43. The system of claim 36, further comprising: a credit card readeradapted to facilitate payment for the shipping label.
 44. The system ofclaim 43, wherein the credit card reader is disposed at the printer. 45.The system of claim 36, wherein the scale is integrated with theprinter.
 46. The system of claim 36, wherein the printer further has ascale interface adapted for controlling the scale.
 47. The system ofclaim 46, wherein the scale interface comprises a control input forzeroing the scale.
 48. The system of claim 36, wherein the communicationof the at least one shipping preference and the shipping data betweenthe printer and the computer is provided by a wireless communicationlink.
 49. A system for printing a shipping label for an item to beshipped, the system comprising: a printer having a shipping parameterinterface adapted for inputting at least one shipping preference for theitem, the printer also having a scale interface adapted for accepting aweight of the item from a scale in communication with the printer,wherein the printer is adapted to communicate the at least one shippingpreference and the weight to a computer for generation of shipping datafor printing by the printer on the label, wherein the printer furtherhas a user interface adapted for a user accepting a value of theshipping label as provided by the shipping data and controlling theprinting of the shipping label including at least a portion of theshipping data; and the computer, wherein the computer is in datacommunication with the printer and is in data communication with aserver, wherein the computer is adapted to receive the at least oneshipping preference and the weight from the printer and cooperate withthe server to form the shipping data using the at least one shippingpreference, and wherein the computer is adapted to communicate theshipping data to the printer for enabling printing of the shipping labelby the printer.
 50. The system of claim 49, wherein the at least oneshipping parameter comprises a parameter selected from the listconsisting of item type, shipping class, and item weight.
 51. The systemof claim 49, wherein the user interface provides a plurality of valuesto the user for selection of a value for the shipping label by the user.52. The system of claim 49, wherein the value is calculated by thecomputer and provided to the printer for accepting by the user.
 53. Thesystem of claim 49, wherein the shipping data comprises a postageindicium.
 54. The system of claim 49, wherein the item to be shippedcomprises an item selected from the group consisting of a package, abox, a carton, and a tube.
 55. The system of claim 49, wherein theprinter is adapted for printing on roll stock, wherein the shippinglabel comprises a label of the roll stock.
 56. The system of claim 49,further comprising: a credit card reader adapted to facilitate paymentfor the shipping label.
 57. The system of claim 56, wherein the creditcard reader is disposed at the printer.
 58. The system of claim 56,wherein the credit card reader is disposed at the computer.
 59. Thesystem of claim 49, wherein the scale is integrated with the printer.60. The system of claim 49, wherein the printer further has a scaleinterface adapted for controlling the scale.
 61. The system of claim 60,wherein the scale interface comprises a control input for zeroing thescale.
 62. The system of claim 49, wherein the communication of the atleast one shipping preference and the shipping data between the printerand the computer is provided by a wireless communication link.